<w lemma="masin">μασιν</w>. <w lemma="e%29peida%5Cn">ἐπειδὰν</w> <w lemma="ga%2Fr">γάρ</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="sunqeasa%2Fmenos">συνθεασάμενος</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="fqo%2Fnon">φθόνον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mi%3Dsos">μῖσος</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="poli%2Ftais">πολίταις</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxon">ὑπάρχον</w>, <w lemma="ka%29%2Fpeita">κἄπειτα</w> <w lemma="qarrh%2Fsh%7C">θαρρήσῃ</w> <w lemma="le%2Fgein">λέγειν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fttein">πράττειν</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proestw%2Ftwn">προεστώτων</w>, <w lemma="pa%3Dn">πᾶν</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Ftoimon">ἕτοιμον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunergo%5Cn">συνεργὸν</w> <w lemma="lamba%2Fnei">λαμβάνει</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w>.
<w lemma="loipo%5Cn">λοιπὸν</w> <w lemma="ou%28%5Cs">οὓς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="foneu%2Fsantes">φονεύσαντες</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%5Cs">οὓς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="fugadeu%2Fsantes">φυγαδεύσαντες</w>, <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fa">βασιλέα</w> <w lemma="proi+%2Fstasqai">προΐστασθαι</w> <w lemma="tolmw%3Dsin">τολμῶσιν</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="dedio%2Ftes">δεδιότες</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w> <w lemma="a%29diki%2Fan">ἀδικίαν</w>, <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fosin">πλείοσιν</w> <w lemma="e%29pitre%2Fpein">ἐπιτρέπειν</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="koina%5C">κοινὰ</w> <w lemma="qarrou%3Dsi">θαρροῦσι</w>, <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="po%2Fdas">πόδας</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fshs">οὔσης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w> <w lemma="a%29gnoi%2Fas">ἀγνοίας</w>,
<w lemma="mo%2Fnhs">μόνης</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="sfi%2Fsi">σφίσι</w> <w lemma="kataleipome%2Fnhs">καταλειπομένης</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdos">ἐλπίδος</w> <w lemma="a%29kerai%2Fou">ἀκεραίου</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="au%28toi%3Ds">αὑτοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="katafe%2Frontai">καταφέρονται</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fan">πολιτείαν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="o%29ligarxikh%3Ds">ὀλιγαρχικῆς</w> <w lemma="dhmokrati%2Fan">δημοκρατίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29poi%2Fhsan">ἐποίησαν</w>, <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="koinw%3Dn">κοινῶν</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fnoian">πρόνοιαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pi%2Fstin">πίστιν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="sfa%3Ds">σφᾶς</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29ne%2Flabon">ἀνέλαβον</w>.
<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fxri">μέχρι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="sw%2F%7Czwntai%2F">σῴζωνταί</w> <w lemma="tines">τινες</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28peroxh%3Ds">ὑπεροχῆς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dunastei%2Fas">δυναστείας</w> <w lemma="pei%3Dran">πεῖραν</w> <w lemma="ei%29lhfo%2Ftwn">εἰληφότων</w>, <w lemma="a%29smeni%2Fzontes">ἀσμενίζοντες</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="parou%2Fsh%7C">παρούσῃ</w> <w lemma="katasta%2Fsei">καταστάσει</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstou">πλείστου</w> <w lemma="poiou%3Dntai">ποιοῦνται</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="i%29shgori%2Fan">ἰσηγορίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="parrhsi%2Fan:">παρρησίαν·</w>
<w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pige%2Fnwntai">ἐπιγένωνται</w> <w lemma="ne%2Foi">νέοι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="paisi%5C">παισὶ</w> <w lemma="pai%2Fdwn">παίδων</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="dhmokrati%2Fa">δημοκρατία</w> <w lemma="paradoqh%3D%7C">παραδοθῇ</w>, <w lemma="to%2Ft%27">τότ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29ke%2Fti">οὐκέτι</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="su%2Fnhqes">σύνηθες</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flw%7C">μεγάλῳ</w> <w lemma="tiqe%2Fmenoi">τιθέμενοι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="i%29shgori%2Fas">ἰσηγορίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parrhsi%2Fas">παρρησίας</w> <w lemma="zhtou%3Dsi">ζητοῦσι</w> <w lemma="ple%2Fon">πλέον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pollw%3Dn:">πολλῶν·</w> <w lemma="ma%2Flista">μάλιστα</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dt%27">τοῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29mpi%2Fptousin">ἐμπίπτουσιν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="ou%29si%2Fais">οὐσίαις</w> <w lemma="u%28pere%2Fxontes">ὑπερέχοντες</w>.
<w lemma="loipo%5Cn">λοιπὸν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="o%28rmh%2Fswsin">ὁρμήσωσιν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="filarxei%3Dn">φιλαρχεῖν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnwntai">δύνωνται</w> <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fas">ἰδίας</w> <w lemma="a%29reth%3Ds">ἀρετῆς</w> <w lemma="tugxa%2Fnein">τυγχάνειν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w>, <w lemma="diafqei%2Frousi">διαφθείρουσι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="ou%29si%2Fas">οὐσίας</w>, <w lemma="delea%2Fzontes">δελεάζοντες</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="lumaino%2Fmenoi">λυμαινόμενοι</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="plh%2Fqh">πλήθη</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpon">τρόπον</w>.
<w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fpac">ἅπαξ</w> <w lemma="dwrodo%2Fkous">δωροδόκους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dwrofa%2Fgous">δωροφάγους</w> <w lemma="kataskeua%2Fswsi">κατασκευάσωσι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="pollou%5Cs">πολλοὺς</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Ffrona">ἄφρονα</w> <w lemma="docofagi%2Fan">δοξοφαγίαν</w>, <w lemma="to%2Ft%27">τότ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="dhmokrati%2Fas">δημοκρατίας</w> <w lemma="katalu%2Fetai">καταλύεται</w>, <w lemma="meqi%2Fstatai">μεθίσταται</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fan">βίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="xeirokrati%2Fan">χειροκρατίαν</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="dhmokrati%2Fa">δημοκρατία</w>.
<w lemma="suneiqisme%2Fnon">συνειθισμένον</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="e%29sqi%2Fein">ἐσθίειν</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="a%29llo%2Ftria">ἀλλότρια</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdas">ἐλπίδας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="zh%3Dn">ζῆν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pe%2Flas">πέλας</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="la%2Fbh%7C">λάβῃ</w> <w lemma="prosta%2Fthn">προστάτην</w> <w lemma="megalo%2Ffrona">μεγαλόφρονα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tolmhro%2Fn">τολμηρόν</w>, <w lemma="e%29kkleio%2Fmenon">ἐκκλειόμενον</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="peni%2Fan">πενίαν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fa%7C">πολιτείᾳ</w> <w lemma="timi%2Fwn">τιμίων</w>, <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="xeirokrati%2Fan">χειροκρατίαν</w> <w lemma="a%29potelei%3D">ἀποτελεῖ</w>,
<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="sunaqroizo%2Fmenon">συναθροιζόμενον</w> <w lemma="poiei%3D">ποιεῖ</w> <w lemma="sfaga%2Fs">σφαγάς</w>, <w lemma="fuga%2Fs">φυγάς</w>, <w lemma="gh%3Ds">γῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29nadasmou%2Fs">ἀναδασμούς</w>, <w lemma="e%28%2Fws">ἕως</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="a%29poteqhriwme%2Fnon">ἀποτεθηριωμένον</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="eu%28%2Frh%7C">εὕρῃ</w> <w lemma="despo%2Fthn">δεσπότην</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnarxon">μόναρχον</w>. <w lemma="%2Aau%28%2Fth">Αὕτη</w> <w lemma="politeiw%3Dn">πολιτειῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29naku%2Fklwsis">ἀνακύκλωσις</w>,
<w lemma="au%28%2Fth">αὕτη</w> <w lemma="fu%2Fsews">φύσεως</w> <w lemma="oi%29konomi%2Fa">οἰκονομία</w>, <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28%5Cn">ἣν</w> <w lemma="metaba%2Fllei">μεταβάλλει</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="meqi%2Fstatai">μεθίσταται</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="au%28ta%5C">αὑτὰ</w> <w lemma="katanta%3D%7C">καταντᾷ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fas">πολιτείας</w>.
<w lemma="tau%3Dta%2F">ταῦτά</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="safw%3Ds">σαφῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29pegnwkw%5Cs">ἐπεγνωκὼς</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnois">χρόνοις</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Fsws">ἴσως</w> <w lemma="diamarth%2Fsetai">διαμαρτήσεται</w> <w lemma="le%2Fgwn">λέγων</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllontos">μέλλοντος</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fas">πολιτείας</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pou%3D">ποῦ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="au%29ch%2Fsews">αὐξήσεως</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fkasto%2Fn">ἕκαστόν</w> <w lemma="e%29stin">ἐστιν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="fqora%3Ds">φθορᾶς</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="pou%3D">ποῦ</w> <w lemma="metasth%2Fsetai">μεταστήσεται</w> <w lemma="spani%2Fws">σπανίως</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="diasfa%2Flloito">διασφάλλοιτο</w>, <w lemma="xwri%5Cs">χωρὶς</w> <w lemma="o%29rgh%3Ds">ὀργῆς</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="fqo%2Fnou">φθόνου</w> <w lemma="poiou%2Fmenos">ποιούμενος</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%2Ffasin">ἀπόφασιν</w>.
<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="peri%2F">περί</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fas">πολιτείας</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fstasin">ἐπίστασιν</w> <w lemma="ma%2Flist%27">μάλιστ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Flqoimen">ἔλθοιμεν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="gnw%3Dsin">γνῶσιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="susta%2Fsews">συστάσεως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="au%29ch%2Fsews">αὐξήσεως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29kmh%3Ds">ἀκμῆς</w>, <w lemma="o%28moi%2Fws">ὁμοίως</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tou%29%2Fmpalin">τοὔμπαλιν</w> <w lemma="e%29some%2Fnhs">ἐσομένης</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="metabolh%3Ds:">μεταβολῆς·</w>
<w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="ga%2Fr">γάρ</w> <w lemma="tina">τινα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="e%28te%2Fran">ἑτέραν</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fan">πολιτείαν</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="a%29rti%2Fws">ἀρτίως</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dpa">εἶπα</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w>, <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="fu%2Fsin">φύσιν</w> <w lemma="a%29p%27">ἀπ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxousan">ἔχουσαν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="su%2Fstasin">σύστασιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="au%29%2Fchsin">αὔξησιν</w>, <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="fu%2Fsin">φύσιν</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fcein">ἕξειν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="ta%29nanti%2Fa">τἀναντία</w> <w lemma="metabolh%2Fn">μεταβολήν</w>.
<w lemma="skopei%3Dn">σκοπεῖν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29ce%2Fstai">ἐξέσται</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="r%28hqhsome%2Fnwn">ῥηθησομένων</w>.
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<head>How Democracy Arises and Degenerates</head>For no sooner had the knowledge of the jealousy and<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note11">Oligarchy is replaced by democracy</note>hatred existing in the citizens against them emboldened some one to oppose the government by word or deed, than he was sure to find the whole people ready and prepared to take his side. Having then got rid of these rulers by assassination or exile, they do not venture to set up a king again, being still in terror of the injustice to which this led before; nor dare they intrust the common interests again to more than one, considering the recent example of their misconduct: and therefore, as the only sound hope left them is that which depends upon themselves, they are driven to take refuge in that; and so changed the constitution from an oligarchy to a<term>democracy,</term>and took upon themselves the superintendence and charge of the state. And as long as any survive who have had experience of oligarchical supremacy and domination, they regard their present constitution as a blessing, and hold equality and freedom as of the utmost value. But as soon as a new generation has arisen, and the democracy has descended to their children's children, long association weakens their value for equality and freedom, and some seek to become more powerful than the ordinary citizens; and the most liable to this temptation are the rich.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note12">Democracy degenerates into rule of corruption and violence, only to be stopped by a return to despotism.</note>So when they begin to be fond of office, and find themselves unable to obtain it by their own unassisted efforts and their own merits, they ruin their estates, while enticing and corrupting the common people in every possible way. By which means when, in their senseless mania for reputation, they have made the populace ready and greedy to receive bribes, the virtue of democracy is destroyed, and it is transformed into a government<pb n="466" />of violence and the strong hand. For the mob, habituated to feed at the expense of others, and to have its hopes of a livelihood in the property of its neighbours, as soon as it has got a leader sufficiently ambitious and daring, being excluded by poverty from the sweets of civil honours, produces a reign of mere violence. Then come tumultuous assemblies, massacres, banishments, redivisions of land; until, after losing all trace of civilisation, it has once more found a master and a despot.This is the regular cycle of constitutional revolutions, and the natural order in which constitutions change, are transformed, and return again to their original stage. If a man have a clear grasp of these principles he may perhaps make a mistake as to the dates at which this or that will happen to a particular constitution; but he will rarely be entirely mistaken as to the stage of growth or decay at which it has arrived, or as to the point at which it will undergo some revolutionary change. However, it is in the case of the Roman constitution that this method of inquiry will most fully teach us its formation, its growth, and zenith, as well as the changes awaiting it in the future; for this, if any constitution ever did, owed, as I said just now, its original foundation and growth to natural causes, and to natural causes will owe its decay. My subsequent narrative will be the best illustration of what I say.
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Walbank Commentary